Naomi Osaka’s had a bit of a rough patch lately, but she’s not letting it get her down! Even though she had to pull out of a couple of tournaments – remember that ASB Classic final against Clara Tauson, where she retired with an abdominal injury? And then the Australian Open, where she had to withdraw in the third round against Belinda Bencic? That definitely had fans worried. But Naomi’s showing some serious resilience and bouncing back!
Following her Melbourne withdrawal, Osaka’s future seemed uncertain. She had considered retiring if her ranking wasn’t high enough. As the former World No. 1 said last December, “If I’m not above a certain ranking, I don’t see myself playing for a while.” However, this is not the case with Naomi anymore. From her Instagram updates, it seems like she began practice after the Australian Open! On Tuesday, she posted a training video, performing shadow drills. Her caption read, “🫨🫨🫨 everyday.” Now, she’s back with another update.
She posted a picture of herself with her Yonex tennis kit and racket, captioning it “back.” It’s her way of saying she’s preparing to come back stronger. Not just that, but she dropped news on her upcoming tournament: the HSBC Championships in London from June 9-15! Just yesterday, it was announced that four-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 is the first player confirmed for the women’s event at the HSBC Championships this summer!
Not to forget that she will also be at the MGM Rewards Slam against Aryna Sabalenka in Las Vegas, starting in the first week of March.
Last year wasn’t easy either. She had to withdraw from both the 2024 China Open and the Japan Open due to a back injury. And it looks like her preseason training with her new coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, has been intense. She even posted some funny pics and videos from her first sessions, including one of her totally wiped out on the court with all her gear. Osaka hilariously admitted she barely survived, captioning one video, “It’s giving ‘call the ambulance 🚑😭’”!
Despite the challenges, she’s pushing through! She seems to be keeping up her New Year’s resolution.
Naomi Osaka’s motivation for the 2025 season!
Naomi Osaka showed glimpses of her former World No. 1 self during her 2025 Australian Open campaign! Despite a third-round withdrawal, she reminded everyone why she holds four Grand Slam titles. On January 31, during a lighthearted air hockey game with the AO team, Osaka revealed her resolution for 2025.
“I think just to know that I’m improving as a person. Just to try as hard as I can everyday, no matter what I do and then I feel like if I do that, the bar of like trying is gonna keep getting taller?” she shared, exciting her fans.
Osaka’s statement highlighted her drive for improvement and the pressure of constantly raising her own standards. Though anxiety lingers, she exuded confidence in her current form. In an interview with Punto de Break during the Auckland tournament, she declared, “I’m ready for battle, I feel that now I have the necessary willpower to return to the top.” She reflected that her mentality, not just her form, contributed to past setbacks.
Despite facing early exits last year, she came back to reach the final of her first tournament(at ASB Classic) of her season and she’s speaking up more during the press conferences. “I am not the most talented tennis player in the world, but I have worked very hard my whole life, which has given me confidence in my abilities. I must learn to be more aggressive on the court, to approach each match like a boxing match where I have to show that I want to win more than my opponent,” she stated.
But don’t forget that tennis isn’t Osaka’s sole focus, as her life now also revolves around her daughter, Shai. But with her progress in the early weeks of the 2025 season, a return to the top seems within reach! Currently ranked 44th in the WTA, Osaka has the potential to climb back. With intense training and support from Mouratoglou, who knows how far she can go?
Leave a Reply